O'Brien compares Declaration of War to Giant's Causeway

Ireland's standard bearer for the Breeders' Cup Classic, Declaration of War

made his first appearance on the track at Santa Anita, and cantered once Santa

Anita's main track Thursday morning along with the other four horses from the

Aidan O'Brien stable. The four-year-old looked well, and rider Dean Gallagher

reported that all was "OK" ahead of his run in Saturday's $5 million Breeders'

Cup Classic.

"We've tried to win this race many times before and come up short," O'Brien

said. "To win it would be huge, monumental, but I don't allow myself to even

dream about it."

According to PA Sport, O'Brien waxed eloquent about Declaration of War.

"I think Declaration Of War is different to any of the horses I've run in the

Classic, as he has a different profile. We took him to Southwell two weeks ago

because that surface is as close to American dirt in terms of the kickback.

"In that work he followed two Group 1 winners over a mile, sat in behind them

and then quickened up to go clear and he was visually very impressive. We did

the same before Giant's Causeway went for the Classic, but he didn't pull away

like this one did.

"Declaration of War likes to get up there in behind horses and was on the

heels of the two in front of him.

"He's got a fantastic constitution and I think he has got more speed than

Giant's Causeway, who was a horse that could get lazy in his races. This horse

is not (lazy).

"It will be Joseph's first ride on dirt at the Breeders' Cup and another

first for him, but no one knows the horse better," O'Brien added regarding his

son, the regular rider of Declaration of War. "He's a big powerful horse, and he

has been in full work all the time this year. We've kept him busy and we are

very pleased with him."

The master of Ballydoyle also spoke of his other hopefuls to the BC publicity

team.

Magician tries 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Turf.

"Although he has won a classic (the one-mile Irish Two Thousand Guineas), he

also won a Derby trial at Chester over 10 furlongs, and Ryan (Moore), who rode

him, said he thought he'd stay further, so we took the decision to run him in

the Turf and let Cristoforo Colombo run in the Mile," O'Brien said.

Giovanni Boldini and Wilshire Boulevard, Ireland's challengers in the

Juvenile Turf both cantered round the main track Thursday morning. Both colts

were having their first look at the surroundings and seemed to be well at ease.

"They are both coming into the race well, and should be suited by the fast

surface over here," the trainer said.

The morning-line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Turf, the John Gosden-trained

The Fugue, stepped up her work under the guidance of race rider William Buick on

the turf course. Having warmed up with a jog behind her pony she cantered down

the backstretch before extending and doing a quicker piece of work down the home

stretch.

Buick was very pleased with his filly after she returned to the barn.

"I am very happy with her," Buick said. "She changed her leads which is what

I was hoping she would do, and she seems very well in herself. She's happy here

at Santa Anita."

Dank and Romantica, the European challengers for the Filly & Mare Turf also

picked up their work Thursday morning.

The Michael Stoute-trained Dank, who is bidding to make it two wins in a row

in America, following her success in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park in

August, went nicely under Moore out on the turf. She put in her strongest piece

of work since arriving, and did a nice breeze down the homestretch.

Romantica, ridden by regular work rider Monika Kcova, jogged before a canter

all the way around the track.

"Since she got here she has seemingly improved on a daily basis and I am very

happy with her," Kcova said.

In contrast, Juvenile Turf contender Shamshon stayed off the track Thursday.

"He is having a quiet day today and we just walked him round the barn,"

Richard Hannon Jr. said.

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